Former Loveland teacher deported after admitting sex crime against student

Gawain Roberts, 36, avoided prison and was sent back to the United Kingdom after taking a plea deal.

Jul. 15, 2013

Gawain Roberts

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A former Loveland teacher from Fort Collins will be deported to the United Kingdom after he pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old female student.

Gawain Jay Roberts, 36, was patted down and handcuffed in front of family members in a Larimer County Justice Center courtroom on Monday, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took him into custody.

Evidence shows the victim’s grades “went up dramatically” after she transferred pictures to Roberts, said Deputy District Attorney David Vandenberg. Roberts initially faced two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a child and one felony count of attempted sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

He was given a suspended six-year prison sentence after accepting a plea deal for one of the exploitation felonies. Roberts is a Welsh citizen who was living in the U.S. legally with no previous criminal record in Colorado. But the criminal case triggered deportation proceedings, and part of the plea deal requires that Roberts can’t contest being forced to leave the U.S.

Shortly after District Judge Greg Lammons told him he’d never be able to legally re-enter the U.S., Roberts staggered behind the lectern and was helped into a chair by attorneys and courtroom security. He stood back up after a couple minutes and appeared pale.

Roberts is required to register as a sex offender, but because he’s leaving the country, Lammons said he should follow up with authorities in the United Kingdom.

Roberts worked at Thompson School District in Loveland for six years and resigned in October 2012 a few weeks before the charges were filed. He taught a small group of high school-aged students through the SOARS alternative-education program based at Ferguson High School. He’d passed the school’s background check, school officials previously said.

Defense attorney Kirkland Brush said after the sentencing that Roberts’ family members were upset with the case’s outcome and declined to comment. Brush told the court, “The penalty really has been imposed in spite of the suspended sentence.”

He said Roberts and his wife already made plans to move back to the United Kingdom with their weeks-old infant.

Computers and cell phones were among evidence in the case. Loveland police previously said they were looking for other possible victims, but only the 17-year-old girl was mentioned Monday.